We sit down with Texas Longhorn legend and NFL Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo. From his Houston roots and late-blooming recruiting journey to dominating on defense, Orakpo shares never-before-heard stories about his time at Texas, his NFL career, and life after football.

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Meet Our Team:
Derrick Johnson: NFL All-Pro and Texas Longhorn legend, providing unparalleled defensive insights.

Alex Okafor: Former NFL defensive end, breaking down the line of scrimmage battles.

Jeremy Hills: Renowned trainer and former Longhorn running back, discussing player development.

Fozzy Whittaker: NFL veteran and special teams ace, offering game day analysis.

Rod Babers: Longhorn cornerback great and media personality, sharing insider knowledge.

Nick Shuley: Co-founder of Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund, discussing the business side of college sports.

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0:00 – Brian Orakpo Joins 3rd & Longhorn Podcast
0:32 – How Brian Orakpo Ended Up at Texas Football
1:14 – From Houston Hoops to Texas Longhorns Football
2:08 – Brian Orakpo Recruiting Story: Late Bloomer to 5-Star
3:04 – Facing Vince Young in High School Football
3:45 – Why Brian Orakpo Chose the Texas Longhorns
4:29 – John Williams & Orakpo Family Recruiting Story
5:24 – Developing Into a Texas Longhorns Defensive Star
6:20 – Brian Orakpo Battling Malaria Before College
7:38 – Arriving Undersized at Texas and Earning Respect
8:16 – Redshirt Year: Learning the Texas Football Way
9:45 – Building the Legendary Texas Defensive Line Trio
12:07 – Brian Orakpo Sets the Standard for Longhorn DEs
12:32 – Mentorship from Tim Crowder, B-Rob & Rod Wright
13:30 – Orakpo’s Leadership Style and Locker Room Impact
15:01 – Transitioning to the Colt McCoy Era at Texas
15:45 – Texas Tough: Mack Brown’s Trust in Orakpo
16:25 – Will Muschamp’s Arrival and Defensive Intensity
17:20 – Brian Orakpo’s Presence and Fear Factor at Texas
18:26 – Training Camp Story: Orakpo Sets the Tone for Freshmen
19:47 – What It Takes to Truly Earn a Texas Football Scholarship
20:00 - Life among stars at Texas
20:16 - Learning real leadership
20:28 - Building a championship culture
20:40 - 12–1 and 12–0 seasons
20:53 - Passing the torch at Texas
21:05 - Motivation from Texas legends
21:17 - Patience, hard work, and waiting your turn
21:52 - Why no one left early in that era
22:11 - First year starting after 2006 championship
22:22 - Leading the team after tough losses
22:42 - Houston barbecue story: “No water” moment
23:20 - Choosing the hard path of grinding
23:43 - Offensive line battles in practice
23:54 - Nigerian roots and family influence
24:36 - Playing through personal challenges
25:07 - Teammates who sharpened his game
25:56 - Blalock, Scott, and the O-line legends
26:22 - Senior year success and NFL Draft
26:49 - Transitioning to Washington and NFL longevity
27:12 - Learning lineba

Derrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56
Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokafor
Jeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5
Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhitt
Rod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabers
Nick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley